Linwood R. Thompson

Apr 30, 2014

Linwood R. Thompson

Tenants Harbor — Linwood R. "Cappy" Thompson, 86, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport after an extended illness. The past few years he resided at Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland.

Born June 25, 1927, on Hupper’s Island off the coast of Port Clyde, he was the son of Alvah M. and Helen A. Knowlton Thompson. He attended school in Port Clyde but quit school in the eighth grade to begin working.

Better known as "Cappy," he acquired his nickname at 7 when his brother Harold took him aboard his lobster boat named the Marion and Lois. Harold let Linwood steer the boat while in the St. George River in Thomaston. Mr. Finney, who was also aboard at that time, said Linwood was the captain and nicknamed him "Cappy."

Cappy worked at the General Store in Port Clyde and married Jeanette Hyvarinen Sept. 12, 1952. He later worked at Compton’s in Rockland, and then for Earl Fields Sr. at the Monhegan Boat Landing in Port Clyde. After leaving that job, he worked with Floyd Watts Plumbing & Heating and later started his own business in plumbing and heating where he worked until retiring in 2011.

He loved boating and worked repairing outboard motors at his shop for many years. He purchased a John Deere tractor and loved mowing fields. He was caretaker for many cottages in Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde.

Cappy was a great storyteller and recalled many stories of his past. He said he once walked to the Union Fair from Port Clyde when he was about 8 years old. His children asked why his parents let him do that, and he stated that his parents didn’t know he had left home. He stayed at the fair until dark, when he started to cry. A sheriff saw him crying and gave him a ride home.

He had a great love for German Shepherd dogs and had many over the years. He liked to write poetry and little jingles, which he shared with family and friends. His children recalled the Christmas jingle he wrote to the tune of "Winter Wonderland":

"In the meadow you can build a snowman,

Just beware of dog sh-t on the ground,

If you step in some you’ll be a swearin,

Especially if you think no one’s around.

Later on we’ll conspire as we sit by the fire,

The stain on our shoes turned out to be bad news,

From walking in a winter wonderland."

In 2009, he was divorced from his wife of 57 years, however, they remained friends.

Other than his parents, Linwood was predeceased by his brothers, Roy and Harold Thompson; sisters, Barbara Hupper and Lois Chadwick. He is survived by his ex-wife, Jeanette Thompson of Camden; two daughters and their husbands, Terry and Blaine Cook of Union, Julie and Mike Waller of Hereford, Ariz.; one son Gary Thompson of Washington; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Nathaniel and Corianne Benner, Russell and Sarah Cook, Blaine Jr. and Kasey Cook, Zachariah Cook and his companion Tia Hjulberg, Jesse Thompson and his fiancé Richele Robinson, Heather and Brian Benson, Barbara and Bob Chapman; ten great grandchildren; seven step-great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, May 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland, where a funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 6, at 11 a.m. Pastor Bill Hickey will officiate. Interment will follow in South Parish Cemetery, Ridge Road, Tenants Harbor.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841. To share a memory or condolence with "Cappy’s" family, please visit his Book of Memories at bchfh.com.